Today marks the countdown of 300 days until Northern Ireland will play host to the 2017 finals of the UEFA European Women's Under-19 Championships.
Eight national teams, including Northern Ireland as hosts, will participate in the prestigious 16 day tournament at venues across the country.
The Irish Football Association believes that hosting a major youth finals tournament such as the Women's Under-19 Championship will showcase ‘Northern Ireland at its Best’ – including our football, our facilities, our culture, our history, our fans, our tradition of hosting major tournaments and our unconditional love of the game.
Irish FA Chief Executive Patrick Nelson added: “As part of our Corporate Strategy ‘We’re not Brazil, we’re Northern Ireland’ and our ‘IFA Girls’ and Women’s Football Plan’ we have made an explicit commitment to developing women’s football and we see this tournament as catalyst for growth in the game at a local level.”
In build up to the tournament next summer Northern Ireland will play host to the Women’s International Cup next week, welcoming under-19 teams from the USA, England, France.
MATCH DAY 1
Tuesday 18 October 2016
England v USA (14:00) | Ballymena Showgrounds
Northern Ireland v France (19:30) | Ballymena Showgrounds
MATCH DAY 2
Thursday 20 October 2016
France v USA (12:00) | Mourneview Park (Lurgan)
Northern Ireland v England (19:30) | Shamrock Park (Portadown)
MATCH DAY 3
Sunday 23 October 2016
France v England (12:00) | National Football Stadium at Windsor Park
USA v Northern Ireland (16:30) | National Football Stadium at Windsor Park
Tickets for the tournament are on sale via Ticketmaster.
They cost £5 for adults and £3 for children (aged under 16).
